Nap time

[jamesglewisf]

What do you do with a 2.5 year-old that won't take her nap time?

[kbjl]

"What do you do with a 2.5 year-old that won't take her nap time?"

I am a mother of 3, ages 10, 9, and 3. My eldest stopped taking naps at 8 months old when he started walking (no child should be allowed to be mobile at that age). Rather than call it nap time, we would have quiet time. The only rules are, you must stay in your room and you must do something quiet. Books and music became very popular with quiet time (a 2.5 year old can learn to operate a basic cassette deck).

My children were taught that although they might not be napping, someone else quite possibly was. And they should govern themselves accordingly. In some cases it was even me that was having a nap. Safety note: If you intend to try something such as quitet time, check your house for hazards. Locks at the top of external doors, gates for stairs, kitchen counters cleared off.

This past summer, I had to call on the quiet time situation a few times. I found that my older children loved it. It took them back to a time that they could recall. They pulled out some old toys that they haven't played with in years, listened to they're old Mary Kate and Ashley and Robert Munsch tapes and set a great example for my 3 year old as to how quiet time works. (There is even a neighbor who is 7, who loves our quiet time. He will come over and ask if there will be a quiet time and has joined us many times when there is.)

Hope this helps. By the way, quite often, everyone would fall asleep during quiet time, but it was the fact that they didn't have too, that made all the difference.

kb

[Carrie Earls]

Our two-year-old still takes her naps without a problem, but I am uncertain how long this will last. Bethany, our four-year-old, started having a hard time with naps right around age two. She still struggles with it.

We just decided to establish some nap time rules that might encourage sleep. For example, she must remain quiet, stay in bed, and not play with any dolls or toys. We figure the less stimulation she gets, the more likely she will fall asleep. This proves true the majority of the time.

We do know other parents that just have a quiet time instead of nap time. Bethany gets really cranky later in the day if she doesn't take a nap though. So we made our decision based upon the assumption that she still must need a nap.

[kbjl]

Carrie:

My youngest just started what you describe of your 4 year old, about 4 months ago. Still needs the sleep, but can't settle into it.

What we did was move up the bedtime by two hours. Now he gets the extra sleep at night and does not require it through the day. At the same time his requirements for stimulation has increased. He needs to be challenged a lot more. He still has quiet time, but it's more for my sake.

When I had my first child, it was my understanding that most children will give up their nap at around 24-30 months.

My first stopped napping at 11 months, 2nd at 5 years, and 3rd at 31/2 years. Oddly enough, my first started reading at 2. Since he was not a napper I had to get really creative in keeping him stimulated at all times to avoid bordom and frustration. My sleepy girl (2nd child) did not do as well in her first few years of school because she was always tired, but caught up later.

I guess what is best, is what works for you and your household.

All the best,

kb

[TWTCommish]

Our househould is more aggressive - if they're told to sleep, they have to sleep. No doubt about it. We rarely tell any of the children to, however, so that when we do, we know they'll fall asleep if left in bed long enough. We usually catch them playing, and of course a scolding is necessary.

Overall, though, our 3 year old stopped taking naps awhile ago - we only make him take on when it's obvious he's short on sleep and excessively grumpy to everyone.

[cool chic]

This is exactly what happens around my house too! My two year old just came to the point in which she doesn't want to nap. I find that if I take her outside in the morning (weather permitting) and run her around in the fresh air, she tends to sleep quite well in the afternoon. If she dosn't get at least one nap during the day she gets so cranky...which makes dinner time almost impossible! If she absolutely won't sleep then she has quiet time in her room, then goes to bed early that night. Keeps us both sane!

[jamesglewisf]

We've found the exercise thing to work too. Sometimes, however, she is just determined to stay awake, regardless of how tired she is.

[Nise]

Bump*
My two year old has to have a nap. He gets sooo grumpy around two o'clock. If he doesn't get his nap he's a real whiney hiney and that makes accomplishing ANYTHING almost impossible.
I still rock him. I usually get him a small glass of milk (in a sippy) and he takes about 3 sips and he's out.